Toben v Mathieson Toben v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1530

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Toben v Mathieson Toben v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1530 Hearing dates: 10 October 2013 Decision date: 18 October 2013 Before: McCallum J Decision: Leave to amend the statement of claim in the terms of paragraphs 2D and 2E of the proposed amended pleading refused Imputations (a) and (b) struck out Catchwords: COMPETITION LAW - comments made by a politician to a journalist - whether capable of amounting to conduct in trade or commerce - whether plaintiff should have leave to amend to plead a cause of action under the Australian Consumer Law (NSW)

DEFAMATION - imputations - objections as to form - rhetorical Legislation Cited: Australian Consumer Law (NSW), s 18 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Defamation Act 2005 Fair Trading Act, s 28 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 19.1 Cases Cited: Concrete Constructions v Nelson [1990] HCA 17; (1991) 169 CLR 594 Dank v Whittaker (No 1) [2013] NSWSC 1062 Dank v Whittaker (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 1064 Davis v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 693 Drummoyne v ABC (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Ilvariy Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 9; (2008) 71 NSWLR 323 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] Hanson-Young v Bauer Media Limited [2013] NSWSC 1306 Harvey v John Fairfax [2005] NSWCA 255 HCA 69; (1964) 112 CLR 125 Unilan Holdings Pty Ltd v Kerin [1992] FCA 179; (1992) 35 FCR 272 Unilan Holdings Pty Ltd v Kerin [1993] FCA 420; (1993) 44 FCR 481 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Proceedings 2013/200128: Dr Fredrick Toben (plaintiff) Clive Mathieson (first defendant) Christian Kerr (second defendant) Senator Christine Milne (third defendant)